The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz during "Project Freedom," a U.S. military operation launched by President Donald Trump on Monday, to escort stranded commercial vessels through the strategic waterway, despite conflicting claims over whether the ceasefire remains intact. He has since announced a pause in the operation at the request of Pakistan.
Iran launched cruise missiles, drones, and deployed small attack boats targeting U.S. warships and commercial vessels, while U.S. forces responded by sinking seven Iranian small boats, intercepting drones and missiles, and guiding two U.S.-flagged merchant ships—including the Maersk-operated Alliance Fairfax—through the strait under naval protection.
Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense, and Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Tuesday a the Pentagon, that the ceasefire with Iran is still in effect, emphasizing that Iranian attacks—while frequent—have remained below the threshold for restarting full-scale combat. Hegseth declared, _"No, the ceasefire is not over,"_ and asserted that Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz, calling its blockade "international extortion."
Caine confirmed Iran had attacked U.S. forces more than 10 times and fired at commercial vessels nine times since the April 7 ceasefire, but described the actions as "low-level harassment" and "below the threshold" of major combat. The U.S. established a mine-free corridor and an "enhanced security area" under an "umbrella" of air and naval assets, with CENTCOM reporting no U.S. or allied ships were hit.
Iran denies any successful U.S. transits, calling the claims "baseless," and accuses the U.S. of violating the ceasefire through "military adventurism." Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, labeled "Project Freedom" as "Project Deadlock" and warned the U.S. it has "not even begun" its response.
Meanwhile, the UAE reported repeated Iranian missile and drone attacks, intercepting 15 missiles and multiple drones over two days, with one strike injuring three people at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone. The U.S. maintains the operation is defensive, temporary, and aimed at restoring freedom of navigation, with plans for partner nations to eventually assume security responsibilities.
Speaking to reporters at the White House Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the offensive phase of the Iran conflict, "Operation Epic Fury," was over, stating, _"We achieved the objectives of that operation."
Rubio described "Project Freedom" as a defensive, U.S.-led initiative to create a "protective bubble" for merchant vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. He said the operation aims to rescue nearly 23,000 civilians from 87 countries stranded for over two months, accusing Iran of "economic arson" by blocking the strait. Rubio stressed the mission was defensive: _"There's no shooting unless we're shot at first,"_ and noted multiple countries had requested U.S. intervention. He also revealed the U.S. and Gulf partners had drafted a UN resolution demanding Iran cease attacks, disclose mine locations, and stop imposing tolls, while expressing hope China would pressure Iran to de-escalate.
Tensions remain high as over 1,550 commercial ships carrying 22,500 mariners remain stranded in the Persian Gulf. Iran has tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz, with the IRGC warning ships to use only Iran-approved transit corridors or face a "decisive response." Rubio rejected any arrangement allowing Tehran to regulate passage or impose tolls, calling it "completely illegitimate" under international law.
Rubio maintained that economic and diplomatic pressure will continue until Iran reopens the strait and addresses its enriched uranium stockpile, noting, "They have a high pain threshold, but they don’t have an unlimited pain threshold."
On Israel and Lebanon, Rubio said a peace deal is "imminently achievable" but identified Hezbollah as the main obstacle, saying, "The problem with Israel and Lebanon is not Israel or Lebanon, it's Hezbollah." He claimed that Israel's actions in southern Lebanon target Hezbollah, not the Lebanese state, and that both nations desire peace.
U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are pursuing diplomacy, while the U.S. supports strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces to counter Hezbollah. Rubio warned that a nuclear-armed Iran would empower militant proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas, making the region "untouchable" to external intervention.
Few hours after Rubio's remarks, Trump announced he's pausing Project Freedom: "Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed."
Trump announced "Project Freedom" in a Truth Social post Sunday, stating the U.S. would begin guiding ships safely out of the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday. He emphasized that countries whose vessels were stranded had requested U.S. assistance and said, _"For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business."_ He reiterated that the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports would remain until Iran fully complies with demands, including verifiably abandoning its nuclear weapons program, and claimed negotiations were "going actually along very well."
